Psychology major

First of all I am truly honored to be included with the other alumni that have graced the pages as part of the alumni profile. I cannot speak enough of the Service Learning department and my time at Eckerd. From the moment I stepped foot on the campus I felt an instant connection, which was only strengthened when I arrived and participated in Into the Streets. I loved helping in the community and get down and dirty, either painting or working in the community garden.

That was the start of a beautiful relationship. I think my favorite program was the Alternative Spring Break trips and I was lucky enough to watch the program evolve over the years. My first trip was to Alaska and it was absolutely amazing. The best part was telling everyone we met that we were on a Spring Break trip from Florida; we definitely got some pretty strange looks from people. In a weeks time we volunteered at the Alaska Sea Life Center where we helped to "clean" a sea lion carcass so the bones could be put on display; another reminder that volunteer work is never glamorous. We also had the opportunity to help at wildlife sanctuary that protected moose. We helped clear debris from the fence line but the most exciting part was getting up close to the moose. More than anything else getting to see the incredible beauty and wildlife that Alaska had to offer was awe-inspiring.

After that I was hooked. I quickly signed on to lead my own spring break trips after that and ended up taking a group to Juno Beach, FL; Caracas, Venezuela; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In between, I was fortunate enough to travel widely on my own. One of the most life changing moments I've had was my first trip outside the United States to Kenya. Africa was truly incredible and I found that I'd feel in love with the people and the landscape. I spent a month in a rural village working with local Maasai tribes and conducting research on the conflict between the wildlife and the people. Africa has had a very special place in my heart ever since that time.

Some of my most memorable trips have been with Eckerd College faculty and staff. One trip that had a profound impact on me was Southeast Asia. A traveled with a professor and group of students from Eckerd to assist with research on sex trafficking and international adoption. The trip turned out to be far more challenging that I could have imaged. While in Cambodia we spent a week volunteering at an orphanage known as the "forgotten orphanage." It is the poorest orphanage in Cambodia and is run solely by one woman. Here I met a child who I affectionately called "Little Crazy." This little girl, probably about 3 years old, approached me first. She came up and pinched my leg and then ran away giggling. She was filled with an exuberant energy. It was contagious. Everyday when I visited the orphanage I would spend time with her. When it came time to leave I knew it would be hard to say goodbye. Little Crazy was not her usual high-spirited self and her eyes seemed sad. I gave her a hug and one of the other children took her out of my arms before I got into the van. It was heart wrenching to leave her. I was completely humbled and forever changed by this experience. Meeting the children in various orphanages was incredible and I was amazed by how much I gained from the interaction with the kids even though we only stayed a short time.

Last summer I received an email from the same professor who I accompanied on that trip to Cambodia. She was back in the country and wrote to me after she had visited the same orphanage. In the email was an attachment. As soon as I saw the title on the attachment, "Becky's girl", I started to cry. I opened the picture and there was my Little Crazy three years later. I was completely overcome with such deep emotion, which took me completely by surprise. Her face was exactly the same; she had a sweet smile. That experience and that little girl is why I am in the field of social work. I want to make an impact on the lives of others.

Since then I have continued my travels to Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. I co-lead a trip with 12 students fresh out of high school for 3 months. The focus of the program was service work, teambuilding, leadership and spirituality. My own leadership skills were constantly challenged but it was an experience I would trade for anything.

At the moment I have one more semester until I finish my master's degree in Social Work. As part of my internship I work at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services in both the Survivors of Torture Program and the Refugee Youth and Family Program. The refugee program works with people from over 30 different countries. I enjoy working with children and families from all over the globe. In my spare time I volunteer with some of my fellow students at the BRIDGE Clinic in Tampa. This clinic is run solely by medical and social work students for individuals in the community that lack insurance or have limited income. The clinic has both medical students as well as social work students that provide quality medical and mental health care to the community. It has been a way for me to practice my social work skills as well as help those in need. I was raised knowing the value of service. I have always strived to make it a part of my life. My greatest hope would be to have the opportunity to continue to travel and experience the world while making a difference.

I realize more each day that life is a series of moments and within those moments are the people and experiences that have a profound impact on our lives. It is these moments that change us for the better and teach us lessons we could never learn from any class or textbook.